Straight bar knitting machine



June 8, 1954 K. w. WICKARDT ET AL 2,680,364

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 1952 4 She'ts-She6t 1Inventors;

A ttomegs.

Jlme 1954 K. w. WICKARDT ET AL 2,680,364

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Deg. 1'7, 1952 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3arm;

mwwcck lfac J s15", .8 Wm Kwig 5M M Attorneys- June 1954 K. w. WICKARDTET AL 80,364

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 17, 1952 I I IPatented June 8, 1954 UNITED STATES hATENT' OFFICE.

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE Application December 17, 1952, Serial No.326,374

Claims priority, application Great Britain 7 December 24, 1951 18Claims. 1,

The present invention relates to. straight bar knitting machines and isespecially though not exclusively applicable to improvements in straightbar knitting machines, such as the Cottons type, for the manufacture. offull fashioned hosiery.

In such knitting machines at least one thread is fed to the needles andloop, forming. elements during the coulier or thread laying portion ofeach knitting cyclev whereas during the. loop forming portion of saidknitting cycle and during any fashioning cycles the thread feed isinterrupted and each thread has to be kept at a certain predeterminedtension irrespective ofthe momentary position of the needle bar relativeto the thread carriers. This is achieved in the conventional design ofsuch knitt n machines by a combined thread clamping and tensioningdevice which is angularly displaceable about the centre or centres ofone or more thread tensioning shafts arranged parallel to andsubstantially above the row of needles. In connection with said combinedclamping and tensioning device it is necessary to pass each threadthrough a tensioning ring or weight before it is fed to the clamping andtensioning device.

In such a combined thread clamping and tensioning device, part of theangular displacement of the device is required to move. it from an opento a closed position of the clamp and further angular displacement inthe same direction is necessary to apply a desired tension to thethread. ihe tensioning device, therefore, cannot accurately perform themovement required to hold the thread at a predetermined tension, and theeffect of the tensioning ring or weight is to, draw a substantiallyhorizontal part of the thread into a V-shape thereby at, the same timewithdrawing a certain amount of thread from the yarn supply. At thebeginning of each thread laying motion the weight of the tension ringhas to be lifted thus the inertia of the ring causes it to "jump therebyapplying an additional tension to the thread which often causes breakageof the loop kinks near the selvedge of the fabric.

The present invention envisages the provision of a separate threadclamping device which is adapted to be closed and hold the thread orthreads during the loop forming portions of each knitting cycle andduringany fashioning cycles, and a separate and separately controlledthread tensioning device to apply a predetermined tension to a thread orthreads during the loop forming portion of each knitting cycle andduring any ia h o in y es.

According to another aspect of the pr sent invention a straight barknitting machine such as of the Cottons type, is provided with a threadclamping device arranged to clamp each thread or group of threadsindividually at the $0121! pletion of the laying operation of saidthreads and release them at or near. the commencement of a subsequentthread laying operation, and a separately controlled thread tensioningdevice adapted to apply a predetermined tension to v a thread or threadsduring the loop forming pore tion of each knitting cycle and duringfashioning cycles.

Thus during the coulier or thread laying movement of each knitting cyclethe clamping device allows the thread or threads to pass freely, whilstduring the loop forming portion of each knitting cycle and during anyfashioning cycles the thread clamping device is closed and preventswithdrawal of thread from the. yarn supply whilst a predeterminedtension may be applied to. the thread or threads by the threadtensioning dew vice.

Preferably the thread clampingdevice. co nprises a solid member which issupported from the frame of the knitting machine, preferably sub?stantially in or slightly below the path of the thread on its way fromthe. yarn supply to the thread carrier, and a resilient member angularlydisplaceably supported, preferably on a shaft or shafts substantiallyparallel to and substantially above the row of needles, so as to be ableto, press the thread against the solid member thus preventing thewithdrawal of thread from the yarn supply. The tensioning devicepreferably comprises a solid member angularly displaceably sup: portedon a shaft or shafts arranged substantially above and substantiallyparallel to the row of needles.

In one arrangement a clamping device and/or a tensioning device isprovided foreach thread and preferably clamping devices are controlledindividually for each thread or group of threads fed into the machine insuch a way as to allow each individual clamp or group of clamps to beclosed when movement of the thread or threads concerned is completed atthe end of the traverse of the respective thread carrier.

In another arrangement the clamping devices are operated simultaneouslyfor all threads fed into the machine when the slurcock on its traversealong the row of needles reaches the end of the knitting section.Similarly the tensioning device or devices may be operatedsimultaneously for all threads fed into, the machine or. may be operatedindividually for each thread or for each grou of threads.

The present invention removes the necessity of applying to the thread orthreads any additional tensioning device acting through its deadweightand enables the thread or threads to run freely from the thread supplyto the thread carrier during the coulier or thread laying portion ofeach knitting cycle.

The stationary solid member of the clamping device or devices may bearranged individually for each thread or may be suitable for theapplication to a plurality of threads. It may consist of a substantiallyhorizontal plate or a bar or bars, supported from the upper part of theframe of the knitting machine. The clamping device resilient member ispreferably arranged individ-' ually for each thread and may be operatedin such a way as to be pressed against or lifted clear of the stationarymember under the influence of a cam or cams in timed relation to theoperation of the knitting machine.

The tensioning device may consist of a solid member oscillatablysupported on a shaft or shafts arranged substantially parallel to andsubstantially above the row of needles and may be operated by a cam orcams in timed relation to the performance of the knitting machine. Thesolid member may carry at its far end a threadguide suitable for guidingthe thread and altering its path from a substantially horizontal into asubstantially vertical directon.

The present invention will now be further described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a detail view of a thread clamping device and a tensioningdevice according to the present invention showing the elements in thepositions corresponding to the coulier or thread laying movement of eachknitting cycle.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the devices shown in Fig. l, but with theelements in the positions corresponding to the loop forming portion ofeach knitting cycle or a fashioning cycle.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section through a straight 1 bar knitting machine inwhich certain parts have been omitted for the sake of clarity,

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic front elevation of the'machine of Fig. 3showing certain parts of a straight bar knitting machine,

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of part of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail front elevation view of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a cross-section through a straight bar knitting machine inwhich certain parts have been omitted for the sake of clarity, showingan alternative arrangement of a thread clamping device and a tensioningdevice according to the present invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, one or more clamping shafts ll, I2, I3 arerotatably supported in the frame of the knitting machine substantiallyabove and parallel to the row of needles. Each of these shafts carries aplurality of members (4, l6, 18, each of which supports a resilientmember l5, i1, i9. Said resilient members are shaped in such a manner asto be able to contact a solid member 22, supported by a support 2|, froma rail 20, attached to the frame of the knitting machine. A thread guide'23, attached to support 2!, guides a thread 35 from a yarn supply ontomember 22. Clamping shafts l I, I2, 13 carry levers 24, 25, 26respectively which levers are connected by connecting links 21, 28, 29to an operating mechanism which will be hereinafter described.

A tensioning shaft 36 supported substantially above and parallel to therow of needles carries a multitude of tensioning members 3!, arrangedone for each thread fed into the knitting machine. Attached to the outerend of each tensioning member Si is a thread guide 32 diverting thethread 35 from a substantially horizontal path 35a into a substantiallyvertical path 352). Tensioning shaft 30 is oscillated by means of alever 33 and a connecting link 34 by a mechanism which will behereinafter described.

During the thread laying operation the links 21, 28 and 29 are urgedupwardly so that the resilient members [5, I! and I!) are raised out ofcontact with the threads to permit the threads to pass freely throughthe clamping devices. At the end of the laying operation on any threadthe associated link 21, 28 or 29 is urged downwardly to cause theassociated resilient member to clamp the thread against the solid member'22. The conditions obtaining during thread laying are indicated in Fig.1.

At the end of the coulier operation, that is to say at the end of thecomplete thread laying operation in a cycle, all the threads are clampedand during theloop working operation, and during any fashioningoperations, the clamping devices are held closed and the link 34 isdrawn downwardly to apply a predetermined tension to each of thethreads. The conditions obtained during loop working or fashioning areindicated in Fig. 2.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 one form of mechanism for operating theclamping device and the thread tensioning device will be described.

Referring first to Fig. 3, cam shaft 42 is rotated in a well knownmanner by an electric motor 55, or other prime mover, by means oftransmission gears 43, 44. In particular cam shaft 4 2 carries cams 40,4! and [02. Roller arm 38, supported from the frame of the knittingmachine by bearing 31, is connected to link 34 associated with thethread tensioning device and carries a cam follower 38 which is urgedinto contact with cam 40 or M, as will be hereinafter described, bytension spring 39.

During knitting cycles cam follower 38 is urged into contact with cam40, a circular part of which holds tensioning member 3! stationaryduring the thread laying movement while the specially shaped part ofthis cam causes tensioning member 3| to be moved between its upperposition 3m, and its lower position 3|b (see Fig. 2) during the loopforming portion of said knitting cycles in such manner as to hold thread35 at a predetermined tension irrespective of the momentary position ofthe needle bar. During fashioning cycles cam shaft 42 is moved along itsaxis in a manner well known and conventional in the design of straightbar knitting machines, bringing cam follower 38 into contact with cam M.This cam is so shaped as to properly hold thread 35 at a predeterminedtension during the fashioning cycle.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, a plurality of thread carrier rods 46,41, 48, 49 are slidably supported in bearings 54, only one of which isshown, attached to rail 55, which forms part of the frame of theknitting machine. The thread carrier rods are reciprocated parallel toand along the row of needles by any of the driving mechanisms known inthe design of straight bar knitting machines. Each of the thread carrierrods carries one thread carrier finger for each piece of fabric knittedon the straight bar knitting machine. Thread carrier finger 50 attachedto thread carrier rod 46 may be utilised to knit the, leg or panel partof the stocking, thread carrier finger 52, attached to rod 48 can knitthe reinforced or spliced part on the right hand side of the fabric,thread carrier finger 53 attached to red 59 can in the same manner beprovided for knitting the reinforced or spliced part on the left handside of the fabric, whereas one or more additional thread carrierfingers 5|, attached to rod 4'! can be provided for various otherpurposes. A lead screw 60 is rotatably supported in bearings SI and 62attached to the frame of the knitting machine and is intermittentlyrotated at predetermined intervals by a device not shown in the attachedsketch but conventional in the design of straight bar knitting machines.Lead screw 60 is in its two parts provided with threads of opposite handand supports slidably two spindle nuts 63, 64, free to move along theaxis of lead screws E9 but prevented from taking part in its rotation.Abutments 10, II, I2, I4 attached to the thread carrier rods contactspindle nuts 63 and E4 limiting the traverse of the respective threadcarrier rods according to the width of the fabric being knitted on theknitting machine.

Another lead screw 65 rotatably supported in bearings 66 and 61,attached to the frame of the knitting machine, and intermittentlyrotated at predetermined intervals by any of the mechanisms known in thedesign of straight bar knitting machines, carries on its two oppositelythreaded parts spindle nuts 68 and 69. Abutments I3 and 15 attached tosome of the thread carrier rods contact spindle nuts es and as limitingthe stroke of the respective thread carriers to a width corresponding tothat of the reinforced parts at each side of the fabric.

A roller or other suitable means I03, attached to a bracket I04,slidably supported on the slurbar of the knitting machine and takingpart in the movement of the slurcocks parallel to and along the row ofneedles can at each end of its traverse be moved along its axis from itsposition 63, shown in full line in Fig. 3 into its position 33a shown indotted outline.

A guide rail 16 (see Fig. 4) slidably guided in Fig. 3, and a cam 79disposed as to be contacted by roller )3 when moving in its position"13a. Cam 8c is connected by connecting rod {95 to spindle nut 64 inorder to take part in any movement of said spindle nut. Cam I9 issimilarly connected by connecting rod 96 to spindle nut es. Guide rails85 and B9, slidably carried in bearings 78 and 82, 82 and 11, areconnected to connecting links 28 and 2'! respectively and slidablysupport earns 86 and 90 connected by connecting links 9'! and 98 tospindle nuts 69 and 38 respectively. Cam 9! is disposed in a way as tobe contacted by roller E03 only when moving in its position Elli-3a,while cam 86 is disposed so as to be contacted by roller E83 only whenmoving in position as shown in full outline in Fig. 3. Abutments I I2and II3 attached to connecting links 28 and 21 respectively contactguiderail I5 order to ascertain that connecting links 21 and 28 take in anydownward movement of connecting link 29.

link 2?.

[21, 28, 2.9, lever 99 is displaced in a clockwise di- Referring now toFigs. 5 and 6, connecting link 29 carries attached to its lower end anabutment 84 disposed so as to be contacted by a detent 83 oscillatablysupported from a bearing 82 attached to the frame of the knittingmachine.

Connecting links 21 and '28 carry at their lower ends abutments t2 and88 disposed in such a way as to be contacted by detents 9! and 8?respec-- tively. Compression springs SI, 93 and 94 on connecting links29, 21 and 28 are arranged to bring the connecting links back into theirupper position after having been moved downwards under the influence ofroller I03 and their respective cams.

The detents 81, 33 and 9| are pivotally mounted at I28, IZI, I22 on anelement I23 connected to bearing 82. The detents carry near their lowerends pins I24, I25, US, which ride in slots 52?, I28, I29 near the endof the arms of a tridentshaped lever I30 connected to one arm of bellcrank lever 99. By way of example the relative positions of the detent9i, abutment c2 and link 2'5 when in the unlocked condition areindicated by the broken lines in Fig. 5 at 9 la and 92a. The edge ofdetent 9m rests on the edge of the abut ment 552a; when the link 27 isdepressed by passage of roller I M over the associated earn 9%, abutment92 is depressed below the edge of detent SI which swings into theposition shown by the full lines and restrains upward movement of theWhen it is desired to release the links rection as will be hereinafterdescribed, slots 527, I28, I29 on lever I33 abut pins I24, I25, I26 anddisplace the detents so that they rotate in an anti-clockwise directionand are brought out of engagement with the abutments 88, 84, 92.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, lever 99 pivoted to bracket I00carries a cam follower iti which may displaced against the action ofspring 23! by cam 92 on cam shaft 42. Thus rotation of the raised partof cam 202 against cam follower It! will cause lever 99 to be angularlydisplaced in a clockwise direction to cause detents 8?, 83 and SI torelease links 29, 28, 21 respectively.

It will be appreciated that the detents 83 and 8'! operate in a similarmanner to the detent 9i and that for the sake of clarity the abutments84 and 88 are shown in their locked positions in Figs. 5 and 6, and allthree abutments 8t, 88 and 92 are shown in their locked positions inFig. 3. In Fig. 4, however, only abutment 83 is shown in its lockedposition as will be hereinafter described.

Referring now to Fig. 4 during a coulier or thread laying movement fromthe left to the right as indicated by arrow A, roller m3 is in itsposition shown by the full outline in Fig. 3 and is able to clear camsi9 and 9t and to contact earns and 89. Similarly when the coulier orthread laying movement is from right to left as seen in Fig. 4, that isto say, in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow A,roller I03 is in its other position and is able to contact cams l9 andand remain clear of cams 80 and 86.

When the coulier or thread laying movement is from left to right asindicated by the arrow A, the thread carriers move off from left-handselvedge 51 of the fabric being knitted and as thread carrier 53 reachesthe inner edge 58 of reinforced part L of the fabric and the movement ofthe respective thread has come to an end, roller I63 contacts cam 56thereby moving connecting link 28 downwards in which position it is heldby detent 81 contacting abutment 88. In this position resilient member H(see Figs. 1 and 2) supported by bracket I6 from clamping shaft I2, ispressed downwards holding the respective thread in the clamping device.As thread carriers 50 and 52 reach the right-hand selvedge 56 of thefabric roller I03 contacts cam 80 thereby moving downwards connectinglinks 29, and, by virtue of abutments H3, 21. These connecting links areheld in their lower position by detents 9| and 83 contacting abutments82 and 84 respectively. In this position resilient members I! and I5(see Figs. 1 and 2) supported by brackets I6 and I4 from clamping shaftsI2 and II are pressed against the solid member of the clamping devicethus holding their threads and preventing any withdrawal of thread fromthe yarn supply.

During the following loop forming cycle the clamping devices are keptclosed while tensioning members 3| are operated as described aboveholding the threads at a predetermined tension during this cycle.

At the beginning of the following thread laying. movement cam followerIBI (see Fig. 3) attached to bell crank lever 99 contacts cam I82withdrawing the detents 87, 83 and SI from their respective abutments,allowing connecting links 28, 29 and 21 to move into their upperpositions under the action of springs 94, 8I and 93, thus opening thethread clamping devices and allowing the threads to pass freelytherethrough during the thread laying movement.

During the subsequent coulier or thread laying operation the threadcarriers and roller I03, which has been brought into its position 583a,during the previous loop forming cycle, move to the left in a directionopposite to arrow A in Fig. 4. Roller I03 contacts in succession cam 93during the first part of the operation to pull down connecting link 21and, later on, cam 79 to pull down connecting links 28 and 29 into theirlower positions. All other movements occur as described above.

During any fashioning cycles the cam shaft 42 is moved along its axis orshogged by means conventional in the design of straight bar knittingmachines. Such movement brings cam follower 38 into contact with cam Min place of cam 49 so as to apply a predetermined tension to the threadsby virtue of lever 36, link 34, lever 33, shaft 30 and tensioning device3|. Cam follower IOI is brought out of engagement with cam I02 so thatthe thread clamping devices remain closed. At the start of the nextcoulier or thread laying operation the cam shaft 42 is returned to itsoriginal position so that cam follower IBI is re-engaged with cam I02 tobring about release of the clamping devices.

Another embodiment of the present invention in which all clampingdevices are closed simultaneously at the end of the thread layingmovement is shown in Fig. '7. The thread tensioning device 3| isarranged and operated as described in connection with the firstembodiment. One thread clamping shaft I05 is rotatably supported in theframe of the knitting machine carrying a multitude of resilient clampingmembers arranged one for each thread fed into the knitting machine. Alever I06 attached to shaft I05 is connected by a connecting link III!to a roller arm I08 rotatably supported on the frame of the knittingmachine. A cam follower I09 attached to roller arm I08 is pressedagainst a cam I I I on the cam shaft of the knitting machine under theinfluence of a spring H0. Cam III is shaped in such a way as to closethe clamping device during the loop forming cycle thus preventing anywithdrawal of thread from the yarn supply.

For any fashioning cycle the cam shaft of the knitting machine is movedalong its axis by means conventional in the design of straight barknitting machines. This thrust movement brings cam follower I99 intocontact with a cam II 4 shaped so as to hold the clamping device closedduring the entire fashioning cycle.

We claim:

1. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cottons type having a rowof needles, thread carrier means for laying a thread along said row ofneedles during a thread laying operation, and other loop-formingelements for working said thread into a knitted fabric during aloop-forming operation, the provision of a thread clamping device forholding a thread when required, means to render said thread clampingdevice operative at the end of a thread laying operation and to rendersaid thread clamping device inoperative at the commencement of asubsequent thread laying operation, a thread tensioning device separatefrom said thread clamping device for tensioning said thread whenrequired, and means to operate said thread tensioning device during aloop-forming operation to apply a predetermined tension to said thread.

2. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cottons type for knitting afull-fashioned ladies stocking blank, having a row of needles, threadcarrier means for laying a thread along said row of needles during athread laying operation, other loop-forming elements for working saidthread into a knitted fabric during the loop-forming operation, andmeans for fashioning said knitted fabric during fashioning cycles, theprovision of a thread clamping device for holding a thread whenrequired, means to render said thread clamping device operative at theend of a thread laying operation and to render it inoperative at thecommencement of the subsequent thread laying operation, a threadtensioning device separate from said thread clamping device fortensioning said thread, and means for operating said thread tensioningdevice during the loop-forming operation and during a fashioning cycleto apply a predetermined tension to said thread.

3. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cottons type includingdriving means for operating said machine in knitting cycles and infashioning cycles selectively, the provision of a thread clamping devicefor holding a thread, a separate thread tensioning device separate fromsaid thread clamping device for tensioning said thread, means to rendersaid thread clamping device operative and inoperative in timedrelationship with operation of said machine during a knitting cycle andto render said thread clamping device operative throughout a fashioningcycle, and means for operating said thread tensioning device in timedrelationship with the operation of the machine during any knitting cycleand during any fashioning cycle to apply a predetermined tension to saidthread.

4. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cottons type, the provisionof a thread clamping device for holding a thread when required, saidthread clamping device including a stationary solid member and adisplaceable resilient member, a thread tensioning device separate fromsaid thread clamping device for applying a predetermined tension to saidthread, means to move said displaceable resilient mem'ber towards saidstationary solid member to-cla'mp the thread between said members and tomove said displaceable resilient'member awayfrom said stationary solidmember to free said thread in timed relationship with operation of saidmachine, and means to operate said thread tensioning device in timedrelationship with operationof said machine.

5. In a straight bar knitting machine having a row of needles,"otherloop-formingelements and at least one thread carrier, means forfeedinga thread to said thread carrier a thread clamping device disposedin "thepath of said thread, said thread clamping device including 'astationary solid member and a displaceable resilient member, means tomove said "displaceable resilient member towards saidstationary solid'member'to clamp the thread 'betweensaid members and to move saiddisplaceable resilient member away from said stationary solid member tofree said thread in timed relationship with operation of saidmachine, athread tensioninjg device separate from said thread clamping deviceanddisposed in the path of said thread between said thread clamping deviceand said thread carrier, and means for operating said thread tensioningdevice to apply a predetermined tension to said thread in timedrelationship with operation of said machine.

6. In a straight bar'knitting mac'hine'having a row of needles, otherloop-forming elements and at least one thread carrier, means for feedinga thread to said thread carrier, a thread clamping device disposed inthe path of said thread, said thread clamping device including astationary solid member, means to support said stationary solid membersubstantially in or slightly below the path of said .thread a shaftextending substantially parallel to and substantially above the row ofneedles, a displaceable resilient .member rotatable with said shaft,means to displace said shaft angularly in timed relationship withoperation of said machine to move saiddisplaceable resiilent membertowards and away from said stationary solid member to clamp and unclampsaid thread extendingbetween said members, a thread tensioning deviceseparate from said thread clamping device and disposedinathe path ofsaid thread between said thread clamping device and said thread carrier,and means for operating said thread tensioning device to apply apredetermined tension to said thread in timed relationship withoperation of said machine.

7. In a straight bar knitting machine having a row of needles, otherloop-forming elements and at least one thread carrier, meansfor feedinga thread to said thread carrier, a thread clamping device disposed inthe path of said thread, means for operating and releasing said threadclamping device for clamping and releasing said thread in timedrelationship with opera-- tion of said machine, a threadtensioningdevice separate from said thread clamping device and disposed in thepath of said thread'betweensaid thread clamping device and said thread:car-

,rier, said thread tensioning device including a shaft arrangedsubstantially above and substantially parallel to said row of needles, asolid member rotatable with said shaftfor altering the path of saidthread, and means for effecting angular displacement offsaidshaftin'timed relationship with operation of said machine to ap my apredetermined tension to said thread.

8. In a straight b'arknitting machine havinga row of needles, otherloop-forming elements and at least onethread carrier, means for *feedinga thread to said thread carrier, a thread clamping device disposed inthe path of said thread, said thread clamping device including 'astationary solid member, means to support said stationary solidmembersubstantially inorslightly'below the path of said thread, a shaftextending substantially'parallel to andsubs'tantially above the row ofneedles, a displaceable resilient member displaceable-with-angulardisplacement of said shaft, means to displace said shaft angularly intimed relationship with operation of said machine to move saiddisplaceable resilient member towards and away *from's'aid stationarysolid member to clamp and unclamp said thread extending between saidmem-bers, -a "thread itensioning device separate from said threadclamping device and disposed in the path ofsaid thread between-saidthread clamping device and said thread carrier, said thread 'tensioningdevice includinga shaft arranged substantially above and substantiallyparallel to said row .of needles, a solid member rotatable 'withsaidshaft foraltering the'path of said'thread, and means for effectingangular displacement of said shaft in timed relationship with operation'of said machine to apply a predetermined tension .to said thread.

9. In a straight .bar knitting machine of the Cottons type, theprovision of a plurality of threadclamping devices each adapted forclamping one thread when required, an equal number of thread 'tensioningdevices separate from said thread clamping devices and each adapted forapplying a predetermined tension to an individual thread, a plurality ofmeans adapted to render said clamping devices individually operative andinoperative in timed relationship with operation of said machine, and aplurality of means adapted to operate saidthread tensioning devicesindividually in timed relationship with operation of said machine.

10. Ina straight bar knitting machine of the Cottonfs type, theprovision of a plurality of groups of thread clamping deviceseachclamping devicein argroup being adapted for clamping an individualthread when required, an equal number of thread 'tens'ioningdevicesiseparate from said thread clamping devices andeach adapted forapplying a predetermined tension-to an individual thread, aipluralityofmeans each-adapted to render a group of said clamping devicesindividually operative and inoperative in timed relationship withoperation of said machine, and meansadapted to operate saidthreadtensioning devices in timed relationship with operation'of saidmachine.

.11. Inastraightbar-knitting machine of the Co'ttons type, the provisionof a, plurality of thread clampin devices each adapted for clamping onethread when required, an equal number of thread tens'ioningdevicesseparate from said thread clamping devices and eachadapted for applyinga predetermined tension to an individual .thread, certain of said threadclamping devices being adapted for individual operation and certainothers ofsaid thread clamping devices being adapted for group operation,a pluralityofmeanseach adapted to render-operative and inoperative intimed relationshipwith operation of saidmachinepneof said clampingdevices a'daptediorindividual.operation, a plurality of means eachadapted eto =renderoperative and inoperative in timed relationship withoperation ating with said cam and with said thread clamping device foroperating and releasing said thread clamping device for clamping andreleasing said thread in timed relationship with operation of saidmachine, a thread tensioning device separate from said thread clampingdevice and disposed in the path of said thread between said threadclamping device and said thread carrier, and means for operating saidthread tensioning device to apply a predetermined tension to said threadin timed relationship with operation'of said machine.

13. In a straight bar knitting machine having at least one row ofneedles, at least one set of other loop-forming elements, a plurality ofthread carriers associated therewith, means for feeding threads to eachof said thread carriers, and a cam shaft for operating said machine, aplurality of thread clamping devices one disposed in the path of each ofsaid threads, a cam on said cam shaft, a cam follower co-operating withsaid cam and associated with said thread clamping devices for operatingand releasing said thread clamping devices for clamping and releasingsaid threads in timed relationship with operation of said machine, aplurality of thread tensioning devices each associated with one of saidthreads and each separate from the thread clamping device associatedwith said thread and each disposed in the path of said thread betweensaid thread clamping device and said thread carrier, and means foroperating said thread tensioning device to apply predetermined tensionsto said threads in timed relationship with operation of said machine.

14, In a straight bar knitting machine having at least one row ofneedles, at least one set of other loop-forming elements, a plurality ofthread carriers associated therewith, means for feeding threads fromyarn supplies to each of said thread carriers, and a cam shaft foroperating said machine, a plurality of thread clamping devices disposedone in the path of each of said threads, a cam on said cam shaft, a camfollower co-operatin with said cam and associated with said threadclamping devices for operating and releasing said thread clampingdevices for clamping and releasing said threads in timed realtionshipwith operation of said machine, a plurality of thread tensioning devicesdisposed one in the path of each of said threads between said threadclamping device and said thread carrier, and each separate from thethread clamping device associated with the same thread, a further cam onsaid cam shaft, 2. further cam follower associated with said further camand with said thread tensioning devices for operating said threadtensioning devices to apply predetermined tensions to said threads intimed relationship with operation of said machine.

15. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cottons type includingdriving means for operating said machine in knitting cycles and infashioning cycles selectively, the provision of a thread clamping devicefor holding a thread, a separate thread tensioning device separate fromsaid thread clamping device for tensioning said thread, a cam shaft insaid driving means, a cam on said cam shaft and a cam followerco-operating with said cam and with said thread clamping device torender said thread clamping device operative and inoperative in timedrelationship with operation of said machine during a knitting cycle andto render said thread clamping device operative throughout a fashioningcycle, a further cam on said cam shaft and a further cam followercooperating with said further cam and associated with said threadtensioning device for operating said thread tensioning device in timedrelationship with the operation of the machine during any knitting cycleand during any fashionin cycle to apply a predetermined tension to saidthread.

16. In a straight bar knitting machine having a row of needles, otherloop-forming elements, at least one thread carrier, a reciprocatedslurcock, a cam shaft for operating said machine, and means for feedinga thread to a thread carrier, a thread clamping device disposed in thepath of said thread, a thread tensioning device separate from saidthread clamping device and disposed in the path of said thread betweensaid thread clamping device and said thread carrier, a cam elementreciprocated with said slurcock, two cam followers disposed atpredetermined points in the path of said cam element, linkage meansconnecting said cam followers with said thread clamping device, formoving said thread clamping device into an operative position forclamping a thread passing therethrough upon displacement of any one ofsaid cam followers by said cam element, releasable detent means adaptedto retain said clamping device in said operative position when movablethereinto, a cam on said cam shaft, a cam follower co-operating withsaid cam, linkage means connecting said cam follower with saidreleasable detent means for releasing said detent means upondisplacement of said cam follower whereby said thread clamping devicemay be moved into and released from said operative position in timedrelationship with operation of said machine, and means for operatingsaid thread tensioning device to apply predetermined tension to saidthread in timed relationship With operation of said machine.

17. In a straight bar knittin machine having a row of needles, otherloop-forming elements, at least one thread carrier, a reciprocatedslurcock, a cam shaft for operating said machine, and means for feedinga thread to a thread carrier, a thread clamping device disposed in thepath of said thread, a thread tensioning device separate from saidthread clamping device and disposed in the path of said thread betweensaid thread clamping device and said thread carrier, a cam elementreciprocated with said slurcock, two cam followers disposed atpredetermined points in the path of said cam element, linkage meansconnecting said cam followers with said thread clamping device, formoving said thread clamping device into an operative position forclamping a thread passing therethrough upon displacement of any one ofsaid cam followers by said cam element, releasable detent means adaptedto retain said clamping device in said operative position when movedthereinto, a cam on said cam shaft, a cam follower co-operating withsaid cam, linkage means connecting said cam follower with saidreleaseable detent means for releasing said detent means upondisplacement of said cam follower whereby said thread clampin device mayb moved into and released from said operative position in timedrelationship with operation of said machine, a second cam on said camshaft, a second cam follower co-operating with said second cam andlinkage means connecting said second cam follower with said threadtensioning device for operating said thread tensioning device to applypredetermined tension to said thread in timed relationship withoperation of said machine.

18. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cottons type having needlebars, thread carriers, loop-forming elements, and driving means foroperating said needle bar, thread carriers and other loop-formingelements selectively in knitting cycles and in tensioning cycles; saiddriving means including a cam shaft and reciprocable slurcocks, theprovision of a plurality of thread clamping devices each adapted forholding an individual thread, a plurality of separate thread tensioningdevices separate from said thread clamping devices and each adapted fortensioning an individual thread, cam means reciprocable longitudinallyof the machine with said slurcocks, a plurality of cam followers in thepath of said cam means, linkages interconnecting said cam followers withsaid thread clampin devices for rendering said thread clamping devicesoperative, releasable detent means for maintaining said thread clampingdevices operative, a cam on said cam shaft, a cam follower co-operatingwith said cam, linkage means connecting said cam follower with saiddetent means for rendering said thread clamping devices inoperative, asecond cam on said cam shaft, a second cam follower co-operating withsaid second cam, and linkage means connecting said second cam followerwith said thread tensioning devices for applying predetermined tensionsto said threads.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,143,485 Janssen Jan. 10, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 121,554 Great Britain Dec. 24, 1918

